When you want to understand the features of a Gothic cathedral or church, you can find a lot of information on the web. However, there are two reasons why books are still a good option. First, I am myself very fond of reading a paper-based document. Second, not everything is (yet) discoverable on the internet… Books offer more specialised info with high-quality illustrations you rarely get online. This little selection of my favourite Gothic art books will definitely help you if you’re visiting a Gothic church in France or just want to learn more from your armchair!

My selection of the best books about Gothic art

There is a lot of resource available in your local or online bookstore. The problem is: what book to choose from?

By the way, choosing a book is often a personal action. You may like the look of the cover, whether it is paperback or hardcover. Maybe like me, you are sensible to the quality of illustrations… and when the reading is too technical… well, you just read diagonally (hoping it will get easier later!!)

What comes next is a short selection of my favourite books that you can order online (I’m not looking for books that can only be found by chance at a flea market or which are not published anymore).

Let me know what are your favourite Gothic Art Books by filling the comment box below! Who knows… I may have missed listing a really good book!

What is Gothic art in France?

But before we start the list, I just want to clarify what we are talking about when we use the word ‘Gothic‘.

You’d have already guessed it’s not about wearing black clothes, to dye your black while listening to good old metal.

We’re talking about an artistic movement that originated in the Ile de France (Paris region) in the early 12th century. It succeeded to other artistic movement: Romanesque art.

Then came Gothic Revival…

But the perception toward Gothic art changed in the 19th century, at least in France.

An other artistic era started: Gothic Revival or neo-Gothic.

In 1816, French scholar Alexandre de Laborde wrote that “Gothic architecture has beauties of its own“.

The following year Victor Hugo published a historical romance novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. It starred not only Esmeralda and Quasimodo but the Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. The fiction was a huge popular success.

Gothic Art Book #1

This book has been for me a great resource that helped me better understand the Gothic movement in art from the 12th century to the Renaissance. An architectural style that first originated from France and spread all over Europe.

Over 500 pages it focuses on the development of Gothic architecture with many illustrations and photographs, but not only. I’ve also found interesting the in-depth discussion of the most diverse art forms, including painting, sculpture, metalwork and even book illumination! It also includes specific coverage of the Cathars’ Heresy and the Papal Palace in Avignon. And, of course, it mentions the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris!

This is definitely the book I recommend if – like me – you love everything about Gothic such as churches, gargoyles, stained glass, flying buttresses and so much more. In fact, this is my favourite of all the Gothic Art Books of this list…

About Author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. In 2014 he moved back to Europe from Sydney with his wife and daughter to be closer to their families and to France. He has a background teaching French and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations and a degree of Economics and Management.

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